Today is a day to remember.  

Today we lost two people that touched many people's lives, including ours. 

When mama was at the Memorial Day Parade when she was 4, she got lost.  Grandma was frantic looking for mama, and when someone told her they saw a policeman with a little girl just up the road, she took off her shoes so she could run really fast to catch up.  When Grandma caught up to the policeman, she said "that's my daughter!"  The policeman said "what is her name?  She keeps telling me she's Farrah Fawcett."  

And of course, mama, born in 1975 and thsu 8 years old at the time Thriller was released was a HUGE fan of Michael Jackson.  In fact, she had a Thriller birthday party, complete with a showing of "The Making Of Thriller" that was so scary, all the other kids were terrified for weeks.   And, Mama got to wear the glove at the party.  Yep, the glove.  

Ice cream!  Oh, it's the best thing ever.  I would eat ice cream over any other food.  I ask for it at breakfast, I usually get it from Ga sometime in the afternoon, mama gives it to me every night (in tiny Joy cones Ga found at Fiesta).  So, it's no stretch of the imagination that my all time favorite thing right now is the ice cream man - a mix of vehicle and that sweet, cold, ice creamy goodness!

One night mama and I chased the ice cream man from our subdivision, down the road past the next subdivision, to the third subdivision.  There was no stopping me, and mama was laughing so hard she couldn't stop me.  She did convince me to bring it back to the house to eat it. 

And then we watched the ice cream man drive into OUR neighborhood, so we felt a little silly chasing him.  But, I was already eating when the rest of those kids were just ordering theirs up.  Who's the smart guy now? 

Self portrait - spring, 2009
Up above

Down below.  Oops.  

At my buddy Jackson's birthday party, I convinced mama to rally dada to buy me a playground for the backyard.  I even promised not to jump off my "pirate ship", and no one is surprised that I broke that promise within 10 minutes of this one being set up in the yard.  Yep, off the 4th, then 5th step I jumped.  I was just fine, too. 

The family loves to hang out in our backyard now - with the covered porch, bountiful garden, and this swing.  I'm all about the swing, logging plenty of frequent flyer miles. 

I love climbing up, and down, the rock wall.  I also like to fish off the side of the wall - I'm getting good at reeling, like my dada. 
And dada is getting good at sliding. 
Taking a break for driving my pirate ship and looking for barges, sail boats, ferries and other water transport. 
I was not great at sliding at first (I leaned forward picking up major speed and landing me on my bottom), but I've gotten the hang of it now.  
My hands are finally big enough to let me hang - I used to not be able to at my Little Gym classes.  

We invited the Byman family over to play one afternoon, except that no one woke me up from my nap.  Bummer.  But at least Luke got to be the head pirate for the afternoon.

In April, we got a new addition to our house, a patio (aka Beer Garden).  Mama and dada hired Mr. McCarty, my buddies Jackson and Hudson's dad.  He has his own company - Jack Hudson, named after my buddies.  How cool is that?  We had a bunch of workers at our house to add a covered patio.  We'll post finished pics soon -- we are all so happy with the final product!

Then, Papa came in to work his magic. I helped Papa some, but he was the true mason. 

Papa toiled away for a long, long time.  

And now we have a beautiful patio to hang out on, and a piece of Papa's art.  Thanks Papa!

This weekend, mama's best friends Dawn and Jen travelled all the way from West Palm Beach, Florida and Seattle, Washington to hang out with ME, and mama and dada too. 

I had those ladies wrapped around my finger!

Jen even cozied up to me and bear for a little Dora session.  Who thought she would know the song?!?
Dada took everyone out for a ride in his boat.  Too bad we couldn't stay out longer, but I was cravin'....

Shrimps!  My new favorite treat.  And the key lime ice cream pie.  Everyone go to the Stingaree!  

Bye Dawn and Jen - I'll miss you.  See ya next time!

Congratulations Olivia, Class of 2009!!!

This weekend the Pollard family traveled to Boston to celebrate the graduation of dada's cousin's (Peggy, above) daughter (Oliva, above).  We got there just in time for the party, including cake, because it's no surprise that I would not have sat still for one second of a graduation ceremony!

The Iafrates have a swimming pool that I begged to go in until mama just gave up and let me play on the first two steps.  Miraculously, I did not fall in, but there is (still) a plastic truck stuck between the stairs and the pool side.  Hee hee. 

I got to meet dada's Unc and Pat this weekend

I also spent quality time with Willy dog, who's the sweetest puppy.  
On Sunday, mama, dada and I attempted the navigate the streets of Boston to the wharf to visit the New England Aquarium.  Mama about lost her mind and fired the GPS woman, but we eventually got there.  Dada and I checked out the jellyfish while mama cooled off. 

Enjoying the beautiful weather and a lemonade.   When we got into the Aquarium, dada showed me the tide pool, 

I sat on a turtle, 
Mama and I watched the sea lions dance in the water back and forth, and back and forth, 
(there they go again!)
but my favorite activity of all at the Aquarium was watching for SHARKS with dada in all the windows of the three story HUMONGAZOID aquarium. 

Look, we found one!

On the way out, we saw the Spirit of Massachusetts (the beautiful sailboat center in the picture), and said "hi" to her for Ruthie.  (Side note -- Olivia, Ruthie's precious daughter, was born in April -- post on her to come soon, now that mama is back in the blogging saddle).  It was the perfect end to a perfect afternoon.  

Then, dada and I took naps at the hotel while mama caught up with her college girlfriend, Jen Labbadia-Colon, at an Irish pub in Waltham over a couple Guinness.  

They all met at Southampton College on Long Island in New York -- fall, 1993 (Jen knew mama a few weeks before mama met dada first semester, when Jen and mama were only 18).  It was a magical time.  16 years?  Pshaw. 

The next day, we met Jen and her sons Jonah and Asher at the Children's Museum.  

I played some hoops.  Mama liked this shot (and for the record, is loving this Mac to pieces -- Iphoto and blogger with it is the bomb!).  

Jonah and I went for a spin.  What a couple of cool dudes.  

We pulled over to get some gas.  Jen was silly with her hard hat on!

But we all loved the construction zone!

I also got a kick out of driving the plane - it really looked like I was taking off and landing.  We did not try this on the way back to Houston today. 

Mama and I tried to catch butterflies on our fingers (except they had already landed on our heads). 

What a great time at the Children's museum!  After we sadly sad goodbye to the Colon crew after chowing down on Au Bon Pain, me and mama went back to the hotel for naps while dada and the fam went to the same Irish pub in Waltham.  What can we say, but Slainte!?

After naps, mama and I went back to "Boston" (aka cousin Peggy's house) to do a little play do action, then, yep, you guessed it, we all went to another Irish pub for dinner and more Guinness.  It's very important to celebrate your roots!

I took this lovely self portrait on the way home. 

And what's a night out without a stop at Friendly's for a chocolate soft serve sundae with sprinkles and whooped cream?

And before we knew it, it was Sunday morning.  Time for one last breakfast in the Suite (Hyatt Suites are highly recommended by mama and dada - separate bedroom and bath, kitchen, and I'm looking into a living room with couch where I slept at night).  

We had such a great family vacation, but it's always good to get home (to your 1000 Matchbox car collection, plus a few new ones).  We can't wait to host the Iafrates here soon!  Rumor has it we've got a few Irish pubs of our own!